Top five achievements of PR Sreejesh

Published at :August 17, 2024 at 9:24 AM

Modified at :August 29, 2024 at 2:54 AM

Sreejesh has been one of the most influential figure in Indian hockey.

PR Sreejesh, nicknamed “The Wall of India” in hockey circles, has announced his retirement from the Indian national hockey team. Known for his exceptional skills as a goalkeeper, Sreejesh played a crucial role in reviving interest in hockey, India’s national sport that had long been overshadowed by cricket.

As Sreejesh hangs up his goalkeeper’s pads, let’s look back at five key achievements that defined his impressive career:

5. Setting the Gold Standard in Goalkeeping

From an early age, Sreejesh showed a natural talent for guarding the goal. Despite the challenges of limited vision and movement due to heavy protective gear, he mastered the art of tracking the small hockey ball with remarkable precision.

His skills first gained international attention at the 2008 Junior Asia Cup, where he was named Best Goalkeeper. This award was just the beginning. Sreejesh went on to make a name for himself with outstanding performances in major tournaments, including game-changing saves in penalty shootouts. His ability to stand firm against powerful shots and make split-second decisions soon made him a benchmark for goalkeeping excellence in the hockey world.

4. Dominating Asian Hockey

Sreejesh’s impact on India’s performance in Asian tournaments cannot be overstated. He played a pivotal role in breaking India’s gold medal jinx at the Asian Games. In his debut at the 2014 Asian Games, Sreejesh’s heroic saves during the final’s penalty shootout helped India defeat arch-rivals Pakistan, securing the gold medal. He repeated this feat in 2022, leading India to another gold medal victory against Japan.

The goalkeeper’s influence extended beyond the Asian Games. In the Asian Champions Trophy, a tournament that has seen seven editions, Sreejesh helped India claim four gold medals and one bronze.

3. Turning Silver into Success

While gold medals often steal the spotlight, Sreejesh’s contributions in tournaments where India won silver were equally important. His standout performances in the 2016 and 2018 Champions Trophy tournaments, as well as the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, often kept India in contention against tough opponents like Australia.

These silver medals, though not the top prize were progress for Indian hockey on the world stage. Sreejesh’s ability to keep his team competitive against the world’s best teams played a crucial role in rebuilding India’s reputation in international hockey.

2. Earning Global Recognition

Sreejesh’s excellence didn’t go unnoticed by the international sporting community. In 2021, he became the first Indian man to win the World Games Athlete of the Year award. This honor came after he helped India break a 41-year Olympic medal drought in hockey at Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

To win this award, Sreejesh had to beat out top athletes from other sports in a public vote, showing his popularity and the renewed interest in hockey that his performances had helped generate.

The Indian government also recognized Sreejesh’s contributions to the sport. He was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 2017. In 2021, he received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor.

1. Olympic Glory

Perhaps the crowning achievement of Sreejesh’s career was his role in India’s Olympic resurgence. After a disappointing showing at the 2012 London Olympics, Sreejesh took on the captaincy for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Under his leadership, India reached the quarterfinals, their best Olympic performance in 36 years.

But it was at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 (delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic) where Sreejesh truly cemented his legacy. His crucial saves in a nail-biting bronze medal match against Germany helped India secure their first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years. He followed this up with another strong performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where India once again claimed bronze.

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Indian Hockey Team